EASTLEIGH’S Joe Partington has been hit by a three-match suspension, ruling him out of the Spitfires’ big FA Cup third round clash at Brentford on January 7.

The Spitfires skipper was sent off for serious foul play in Saturday’s feisty 4-3 National League defeat at Southport which saw three players red-carded.

Southport’s Liam Hynes was the first to go for a lunge on Eastleigh’s new signing Sam Togwell from Barnet.

Former AFC Bournemouth man Partington followed him down the tunnel on 23 minutes for sliding in on Neil Ashton.

Card-happy referee Joseph Johnson, who had shown three reds (and 11 yellows) in the midweek FA Trophy replay between Chester and Witton Albion, later repeated the feat by prematurely ending 18-year-old Eastleigh loanee Hakeem Odoffin’s debut for pulling back Andrai Jones.

Ex-Barnet defender/midfielder Odoffin, signed for a month from Wolverhampton Wanderers, gets a one-match ban, meaning he misses next Tuesday’s (December 27, 7.45pm) home game against Boreham Wood, to be televised live on BT Sport.

Partington sits out that match, the festive league return fixture at Boreham Wood on New Year’s Eve (1pm) and the Brentford tie the following Saturday.

The popular Fareham-based right-back, who swept the board at Eastleigh’s end-of-term season awards for 2015/16, was already walking a disciplinary tightrope prior to his dismissal at Southport.

He has been booked nine times this term and another yellow card would trigger a further two-match ban.

Having started the season as Chris Todd's Spitfires skipper, fans' favourite Partington was injured and lost the armband to defender Ryan Cresswell under their next manager Ronnie Moore.

However, with Cresswell currently sidelined by long-term injury, the 26-year-old has been given back the captain's duties by new boss Martin Allen.

Partington played a big part in last season's memorable FA Cup run, cutting in from the right and netting a superb opener in the Spitfires' 3-2 third round replay defeat at Bolton Wanderers.